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Let's chant: Two more years, two more years
So much for the grand plan to oust Michael Madigan as House speaker.
Not that many people thought it was going to happen anyway, but there was a relentless drumbeat by the state Republican Party to shame Democrats into rejecting Madigan for another term as speaker.
Democrats had already met privately during the veto session and decided to continue supporting Madigan, so last week’s public vote during the House swearing-in ceremonies was anticlimactic. The only dissenter, such as it was, was Rep. Scott Drury of Highwood, who voted “present.”
News-Gazette: A new beginning?
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Hope springs eternal, even in Illinois.
Perhaps that’s why Gov. Bruce Rauner and state legislators were on their best behavior Wednesday when the new Illinois General Assembly was sworn into office.
Rockford Register-Star: State reforms critical to fixing city budgets
Unlike state government, cities don’t set the rules that determine our labor costs, we just get stuck paying the bills. This means that we must pay the public safety pension costs and follow the collective bargaining rules for our police officers and firefighters set by state legislators, the majority of whom accept campaign contributions from those same bargaining units.
This helps explain why our public safety labor costs have exploded in recent years, even though our property tax base has lost almost 30 percent of its value. In fact, the city is currently property tax capped, has not raised property tax revenues for several years, and after eight years, our actual property tax intake for 2016 was only 4 percent higher than it was in 2009, despite pension costs nearly doubling during that same time.
Belleville News-Democrat: Townships are a form of welfare — for government employees
Taxes are necessary for the common good, right? So there is a special responsibility for those who take our taxes to ensure the money is spent efficiently, used frugally and delivers value.
Examine the finances of a township government and you will have a tough time believing anyone involved cares anything about those standards.
Chicago Sun-Times: Federal report more important than next election
There’s so much more at stake in the U.S. Department of Justice report on the Chicago Police Department than the political future of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The more he keeps that in mind, the more likely he is to have one, a political future, that is.
WBEZ: Chicago Police Union Contract Under Fire After Justice Dept. Report On Abuse
The U.S. Department of Justice’s blistering report on the Chicago Police Department’s unconstitutional practices has ramped up calls for changes to the police union’s contract, which federal investigators blamed for hampering misconduct investigations and preventing some officers from being disciplined.
The contract is set to expire June 30, and some aldermen said the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, which represents about 10,000 officers, needs to be open to a number of changes to address problems outlined by federal investigators.
Crain's Chicago Business: City legal bill for DOJ police probe hits $3.8 million
Representing Chicago in the Department of Justice’s probe of the Police Department has proved lucrative work for lawyers and consultants, with the bill hitting $3.8 million.
A year ago the city hired Washington-based Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr and the Chicago office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister to represent it as the DOJ launched its investigation into whether police routinely violated Chicagoans’ civil rights.
Crain's Chicago Business: Chicago's D.C. clout exits with Obama
Chicago residents, regardless of their personal politics, are going to miss having one of their own in the White House.
As President Barack Obama moves on to his post-presidential life, he takes with him the last vestiges of our once-formidable clout in the nation’s capital. Chicagoans have become accustomed to the idea that, with the right connections, they can be just a phone call away from the highest levels of power. With the incoming Trump administration, that’s about to change.
Rockford Register-Star: Rockford school bus drivers could strike by end of month
Rockford Public Schools bus drivers could go on strike in a matter of weeks.
“I think parents should be very concerned about a strike,” said Ed Sadlowski, staff representative for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which represents Rockford school bus drivers, paraprofessionals and nutrition services employees in labor negotiations. “We are no closer to getting a contract today than we were eight months ago. Frustrations are high. Morale is low.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Inside how Portillo's came to Normal
The possibility of losing Portillo’s to another city came up when the town considered whether to give up $1.8 million in future sales tax, Peterson said.
The documents indicate Portillo’s hoped to also receive enterprise zone benefits that include abatement of state taxes on construction materials. However, the Landmark Drive site is outside the zone, Peterson confirmed.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Incentives not uncommon for local developments
For better or worse, economic incentive deals like the one bringing Portillo’s to Normal are common in the Twin Cities, records show.
In the last six years alone, more than a dozen developments, including apartment buildings, hotels and retailers have received public funding, according to information from the city of Bloomington and town of Normal.
News-Gazette: Bad cops, long haul
What does it take to fire a police officer — and make it stick?
In the case of former Danville officer Tony Piatt, who pulled his weapon at a Steak ‘n Shake during an off-duty incident in 2008, about 2 years plus full pay and benefits while he was on a paid leave of absence during that time.
Quincy Herald-Whig: Strike delayed, students to attend school Tuesday
A last-minute agreement will keep Quincy students in schools, at least for the time being.
After weeks of tension, representatives of the Quincy Federation of Teachers and Educational Support Personnel and Quincy Public Schools officials held a last-minute, four-hour meeting Saturday.
State Journal-Register: City accused of discrimination in group-home lawsuit
The city has a zoning requirement that group homes must be at least 600 feet from each other.
“They failed to follow our code,” said Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, whose ward includes the house. He said the rule exists to avoid a density of group homes in one area. “If they’d placed the home 600 feet beyond the Sparc home, there would have been no problem.”
Now, the issue is in court.
State Journal-Register: Springfield salon professionals split on new domestic violence law
Springfield-area salon professionals are split on a new state law that requires them to undergo domestic abuse prevention training.
House Bill 4264, which took effect Jan. 1, requires that Illinois’ estimated 88,000 licensed hairstylists, cosmetologists and other salon professionals receive training on domestic abuse prevention. Even if they suspect signs of abuse, they aren’t required to report it and are protected from any liability.
Associated Press: Adams County to use grant to help mentally ill offenders
Adams County will use a $29,000 state grant to begin a court specifically for nonviolent criminal offenders.
The grant announced Thursday comes from Adult Redeploy Illinois . It’s a state program that uses community support systems to keep nonviolent criminals out of prison to save money and reduce recidivism.